Staff:
Shanon
Barker and Thomas Breuckman
Julane
Stites
Jason Davis
Bobbi
Jo Shadel
Barbara
Greco
Barbara
Remington
Amy
Bonaduce
Nemra
Khan
DJ
Rayley
Donnie
Lewis
Michelle Davis
Lotti Baird
Emily Hyde
Shanon
Barker and Thomas Breuckmanhanon
Shanon Barker
and Thomas Breuckman are the new owners of the Stites Performing Arts
Center. Shanon is a native of Portland and a former student at the Stites
Center as well as several other local dance studios. She has been teaching
dance and baton twirling for over 30 years, first beginning her teaching
career teaching tap dancing and baton twirling in her mother’s basement.
Shanon taught Jazz, Tap and International Dance in the Jefferson Performing
Arts program for 10 years. Additionally, she is a baton teacher who has
coached throughout the world and taught national and international champions.
Shanon has a
deep love for children and the arts and has made teaching the arts her
life’s mission. Thomas Breuckman has worked with children in school
and other settings for the past 22 years, as a teacher, counselor and
administrator. While not a dancer, he is very supportive of the arts and
loves to see children develop the artistic side of their lives. Thomas
has been involved with arts programs in school, volunteer and studio settings.
Currently, he is principal at DaVinci Middle School. Back
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Julane
Stites
Julane Stites
career in the performing arts is expansive and impressive. Julane is Artistic
Director of the Jefferson Dancers as well as head of the Jazz Department
at Stites Performing Arts Center. She began dancing at a very early age
and showed that special gift from the beginning. First appearing in a
Portland nightclub at the age of 15, Julane was a principal dancer on
Broadway at the age of 17 and appeared in such shows as “The Happy
Time”, and “Promises, Promises”. Other highlights include
national TV specials and commercials, including The Tony Awards and the
Ed Sullivan Show. Julane’s choreography is known and respected throughout
the dance profession. Her resume includes choreography for numerous musicals
including Civic Theatre’s “West Side Story”, and Will Vinton’s
California Raisins. This past summer, Julane was a principal in the local
production of “A Chorus Line”. Truly multi-talented, Julane
is an accomplished singer, actor, dancer, choreographer and dancer. Back
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Jason Davis
Jason Davis, originally from Tucson, Arizona, has extensive training from superb instructors and schools including: the Universal Ballet Academy, the School of American Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Arts of Tucson and the Pacific Northwest Dance School. In addition to his ballet training, Jason studied many different dance styles in his early training.
Jason danced for several years with the San Francisco Ballet in many significant roles. He also had the opportunity to perform in cities throughout the United States and on the world stage in England, France, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, Greece and Denmark, as well as to dance on stages such as The Garnier Theater in Paris, Covent Garden in London and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Jason is on the faculty of Beaverton Arts and Communication Magnet High School and also is a substitute teacher for Portland Public Schools’ dance programs. In 2006, Jason directed his first full-length production, The Sleeping Beauty, for the Vancouver Dance Theater and has since produced other full length productions. During the summer months, Jason teaches at various schools and intensives including: the Young Musicians and Artists (YMA) program in Salem, Oregon; Pacific Artists Dance Center; Vancouver Dance Theater; Columbia Dance Ensemble and Ballet Theater of New Mexico.
Jason moved to Portland in 2004 and is married to Michelle. They have three young children Ariana, Andrew and Isabel.
Back
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Bobbi
Jo Shadel
Bobbi Jo began
her dance training at the age of three, studying tap, jazz and polynesian
dance with Shanon Barker. At six years old, Bobbi joined the Kelly Kadets
Baton Corps where she combined her athletic skills with dance technique.
She continued dancing and twirling and was a member of State, Regional
and National Champion Baton Twirling teams. Bobbi attended the University
of Montana and Portland State University, graduating with a degree in
Health and Fitness Promotion. Throughout her college years and since,
Bobbi has taken numerous dance, health and fitness classes with an emphasis
in tap, jazz, and aerobics. Bobbi Jo loves to work with children and her
experiences as Youth Program Coordinator with the American Red Cross as
well as her dance training make her an ideal addition to the staff of
the Stites Performing Arts Center. Back
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Barbara
Greco
Barbara Greco earned her B.A. in K-12 (seconday choral emphasis)
Music Education in 1983 from Pacific Lutheran Universiy. She began her
performance experiences at Parkrose high school, Portland. Barbara was
the only student during those years to simultaneously be in choirs, orchestra,
concert and marching bands, and drama. In high school, she was a member
of the 1979 All-Northwest Choir which regearsed and performed for the
Music Educators Conference in Billings Montana. Barbara played cello with
the Stradivani Strings Quartet as well as performed wocally with the ensemble
for private events.Other performance experience includes flute, percussion,
musicals, opera worksop productions, plays, and flag team with The One
More Time Around Again Marching Band. Barbara has taught music at Oregon
School of Music and Dance and Young Musicians and Artists Summer Camp.She
has extensive experience as a substitute music teacher in Portland and
East county school districts. Currently, she substitutes for Reynolds
school district. Barbara volunteers at Wilkes Elementary tutoring the
cello students and coordinating the art literacy volunteers. Directing
church choir and childrens Christmas programs have also been part of her
music education background.
Today, Barbara continues to sing for weddings and funerals. Back
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Barbara
Remington
Ms. Remington’s outstanding career has included positions
as soloist and principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, the
Joffrey Ballet, the Royal Ballet of England, the Netherlands Dance Theatre
and the Harkness Ballet. Her roles have included the ballerina roles in
“Scotch Symphony”, “After Eden” and “Raymonda
Variations”. She appeared opposite Margot Fonteyn in “Cinderella”.
In addition to classical ballet, Ms. Remington performed on Broadway in
Allen J. Lerner’s, “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”.
Her teachers have included such eminent artists as Margot Fonteyn, Erik
Bruhn, Jerome Robbins, Robert Joffrey, Serge Grigoriev and Sir Frederick
Ashton.
Ms. Remington headed the Ballet Department at the University of Oregon.
She joined the Pacific Ballet Theatre as School Director after operating
her own private school in Eugene and Portland for 8 years. She has served
on the faculties of Reed College and Jefferson High School. She has also
been the ballet mistress with the Spokane Ballet Company. Barbara continues
to teach at the Stites Performing Arts Centre while enjoying guest engagements
within the United States. Back
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Nemra
Khan
Nemra Khan has performed professionally and taught Middle
Eastern Dance for over 20 years. She has been the featured dancer at Athens
West, Grecian Gardens, Spiro’s Athena and Plakas, in Portland. Additionally,
Nemra Khan has been guest performer and master teacher up and down the
West Coast including Canada and Hawaii. Taught by America’s top
Middle Eastern Dancers, Nemra Khan specializes in interpretive style.
Middle Eastern classes taught by Nemra Khan at Stites Performing Arts
Center will improve grace and posture, and will offer participants fun,
fitness, toning and the intricacies of body isolations all to the exotic
rhythms of the Middle East. Fitness will truly be FUN with these classes.
Back
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Amy
Bonaduce
Amy began her training under Shanon Barker at the age of
three and continued in the Jefferson High School Performing Arts Dance
Program. During her studies at Jefferson, Amy received training in tap,
jazz, modern and ballet and was a member of the Jefferson Dancers. She
has received instruction from exceptional local artists including Julane
Stites, Elena Carter, Fred Locke, Keith Goodman, Mary Osland and Terry
Brock. She has also worked with nationally acclaimed teachers and choreographers
such as Brenda Bufalino and Lowell Smith. Additionally, Amy has received
training from Patricia Brewer-Jones, Oregon Ballet Theater and Alvin Ailey
School in New York City.
Amy is a three time Grand State Baton Champion in the event of dance twirl
and was a member of a nationally placing team. She is also a United States
Twirling Association certified coach and judge. Amy began teaching at
the age of 17 for the Kelly Kadet Baton Corp. Amy is a graduate of Portland
State University where she majored in psychology and also teaches dance
in the Portland Public School System. Back
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DJ
Rayley
Danielle J Rayley, known to most as DJ, began studying dance
with Shanon Barker at the early age of three. Shanon mentored DJ in Hula,
Tap, Jazz, and Baton. DJ's early enthusiasm and talent lead to entry in
local pageant shows such as, The Paper Doll, in which she won first place,
and the title "Miss Paper Doll", with her baton skills.
During her adolescent years, DJ participated in the Jefferson High School
Out-reach Arts Program where she was introduced to theater, and continued
her studies in dance. In the spring of 1987, DJ auditioned and was accepted
into Jefferson High School full-time and began to participate in the Performing
Arts Program five days a week. The program gave dancers top-notch foundations
in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Modern, and African dance. DJ not only committed
to the rigorous dance schedule, but also pushed forward in her theater
studies.
During her many years in dance and theater, DJ has been involved in a
myriad of performances: Starry Night, Cora Smith's Fashion Shows, Off
the Streets kids dance programs, summer camps, Hip Hop club competitions,
Woodburn High School Dance Team, Relay for Breast Cancer, Portland Parks
and Recreations, local high school talent shows, and Portland Cable Access
shows. She also performed a solo in Sanctuary (directed by Keith V. Goodman),
and directed open house performance programs and the award winning choreography
for On The Edge, an inline skate dance team.
DJ's theater and dance career have given her the opportunity to do what
she loves most... to choreography and to instruct up-and-coming artists.
She is currently involved in a variety of dance institutes: Sellwood Community
Center, Laurelhurst Studio, Mt. Scott Community Center, Dishman Community
Center, Woodburn Parks and Recs., Innovative Dance Studio, Woodburn High
School Dance Team, Reed College, Eastside Dance Studio, and right here
at the Stites Performing Arts Center.
In April of 2002, DJ took her career one step further and became the director
of her own dance company, SNAP!, incorporating her vast background and
unique styles in Hip Hop, Funk Tap, and theater. . Back
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Donnie
Lewis
Donnie Lewis was born and raised in Roseburg, Oregon where
he studied dance at the KCD Dance Studio and the Chitwood School of Dance.
Donnie began his technical training in Hip-Hop, and later expanded to
Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Swing, and Ballroom. Donnie started teaching at the
age of 14 and has taken awards in many dance competitions, including 1st
place in the 2001 Rickets Review and 3rd place in the 2001 Oregon State
Fair Talent Competition. Donnie joined the staff at the Stites in January
2002, and is currently teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced
Hip-Hop classes. Back
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Michelle Davis
Born in Dallas, Texas, Michelle Davis began her training at the Dallas Ballet Academy with Flemming and Vivi Flindt of the Royal Danish Ballet. In addition to ballet, Michelle cross trained in several dance disciplines. She attended the San Francisco Ballet School and in 1991, was selected to be a member of the company. Back
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While there, Michelle had the opportunity to dance under the direction of Helgi Tomasson and performed in numerous dances choreographed by the likes of George Balanchine, Jerome Robinson, Mark Morris Agnes de Mille and other acclaimed choreographers. She enjoyed performing in classics such as Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Swan Lake and many other major works.
Michelle moved to Copenhagen, Denmark in 1996, to join the Royal Danish Ballet for one season and has also made guest appearances with the Maximum Dance in Miami Florida, Nevada Festival Ballet and Ballet Theater of New Mexico. She has taught master classes at the Ballet Theater of New Mexico as well as the Stites Performing Arts Center.
Michelle and her husband, Jason, moved to Portland in 2004 to pursue their teaching careers. Additionally, they have three young children, Ariana, Andrew and Isabel. Back
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Lotti Baird
Lotti Baird joined the Stites Center in 2005. Originally from Germany, Lotti began her gymnastics training when she was 6 years old and competed throughout her high school years. She finished her competitive years at the German Gymnastics Festival (Deutsches Turnfest) in Munich.
When she was 16, Lotti became an assistant coach with a local team. She graduated from Georg August University with a degree in physical therapy. In 1981, Lotti earned her German Recreational and Competitive Gymnastics/Rhythmic Gymnastics license. Later, with her own two daughters competing, Lotti took advanced coaching courses and received her advanced German coaching license for pre-elite gymnastics and was an assistant coach with the German Jr. Olympics Team. She was also the physical therapist for the team.
Lotti moved to the United States in 1986 and has practiced physical therapy and coached gymnastics in Minnesota, Oregon and Washington. In 2003 and 2004, Lotti coached gymnastics in Vancouver. She retired from coaching competitive gymnastics in 2004, however was delighted to join the Stites staff to coordinate and teach the recreational gymnastics program.Back
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Emily Hyde
From a young age, Emily aspired to be in the circus and often conducted her own circus shows with her siblings! Unlike most, Emily pursued these dreams. She trained at the Do Jump! Movement Theater School for 11 years where she had the unique opportunity to study dance, gymnastics, acting, and trapeze and aerial work. She also took contortion classes at the School of Acrobatics with Mee Seon Pierce, and acrobatics and aerial at the New Circus Arts under the direction of Charles Johnson. Emily also trained at Naydenov Gymnastics, and trained and taught contact improvisation with Reeva Wortel at SO&SO Laboratories.
Emily was able to use these skills to perform with Performing Wellness as a contortionist and actress. As a costumer for Umo (a movement theater production company), Emily had the opportunity to work with Cirque du Soleil company members. Emily also produced, performed, and costumed with Femmes Follies Fantastique; danced in the Whipping Hand (a local musical); and with Anatomize at the Portland Art Museum doing contortion and fire dancing.
Emily has a rich and diverse employment career: a trapeze and acrobatics teacher at the DoJump! School; Rigger for the Do Jump youth performing group, ‘The Zig Zags’; taught an integrated dance and visual arts summer program at the Bradley-Angle House; an individual skills trainer working with high-risk youth at the Perry Center and on staff with the District Attorney’s Office and the State of Oregon.
In 2004, Emily began teaching creative movement at the Stites Performing Arts Center. She offers a unique and creative approach inspired by her diverse background, and strives to create that atmosphere for her students.
Currently, Emily is working toward her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health at Portland State University.Back
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